It was announced on Sunday morning that John Godfrey is to be the new archdeacon of Killaloe et al. John is well known among us for his gifts of wisdom, spirituality, pastoral commitment and administration. The esteem in which he is held across the whole diocese was demonstrated by his recent election as our representative canon in St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Next month when Stephen McWhirter takes leave of us John will also, as the constitution permits, become archdeacon of Tuam et al. His manifold gifts will equip him well for this enlarged role, and his geographical location and previous experience in Galway\ Tuam will assist him too. I think it is important that, as the ‘new’ diocese gains coherence and common purpose, the bishop is not the only person who straddles the now largely invisible ‘border ‘ between the two former dioceses, and works with both Councils and with all our diocesan staff . Indeed I believe that a team including a bishop in Limerick ( but with a second base soon in Mayo) and with archdeacons living in the counties of Kerry and Galway, has much strategic potential.
I look forward to working closely with John and with Simon in the years ahead, and I know you will all want to affirm and support John at this time. We are deeply grateful to him for agreeing to undertake this somewhat pioneering role in our midst and look forward to all that he will bring to his task.
Michael TLK
October 2022